Fatal Shot Accidental, Gunman Tells Police

NEWPORT NEWS — Before a shotgun blasted him to death, the last sound out of taxicab driver Robert C. Vann's mouth was laughter, said the 16-year-old who admitted pulling the trigger.

Vann, 54, a retired railroad brakeman who lived on Victoria Boulevard in Hampton, may not have known the gun was pointed at his back, according to a statement Michael Blue gave police after the Jan. 19 killing.

Blue claimed the 20-gauge shotgun he was holding fired accidentally, when his arm was bumped by one of two alleged accomplices seconds after Vann laughed after the teen-agers in his cab demanded money.

Vann died about a half hour later at Riverside Regional Medical Center.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge Robert P. Frank ruled Wednesday that Blue should be treated as an adult and referred to a Circuit Court grand jury for possible indictment on charges of first-degree murder, attempted robbery, using a gun in a crime and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

Frank said he didn't believe Blue's claim that the gun went off accidentally.

"I think there's premeditation. I think they did exactly what they set out to do," Frank said.

A 14-year-old whose identity is being concealed by the court was tried as a juvenile in an earlier proceeding and was placed indefinitely in the custody of state juvenile authorities until he's an adult. He has previously been identified as Antwaine Dunlap, now 15. State law does not allow someone less than age 15 at the time of the offense to be tried as an adult.

Also charged with murder, attempted robbery and crimes involving a gun is Edward E. Wood, 18, of the 1200 block of 12th Street. He is scheduled to be tried later this year.

Blue's rambling account of the events that led up to the killing was contained in a 22-page transcript of an interrogation police conducted about six hours after the 10:30 p.m. shooting.

According to Blue, the three teen-agers had just left a friend's house when the 14-year-old, who was carrying a sawed-off shotgun wrapped in a jacket, suggested they rob a taxicab driver.

Blue said he tried to talk him out of it, until the younger boy called him a punk.

All three were "high," but Blue did not say what drug they were using.

They called Hop's Taxi. Vann picked them up and began the nightmare drive that ended in his death.

The 14-year-old sat in front with Vann; Blue and Wood were in the back.

Blue held the shotgun.

"We kept telling him to go places, telling him to go here, telling him to go there, telling him to go here," Blue said.

Eventually, Wood told Blue to "load the gun, load the gun." Blue said he "started getting scared" but obeyed, then told Vann to drive near dumpsters in the 5000 block of Madison Avenue in the Newsome Park area.

"I said, `This is a stickup, this is a stickup.' So then he said, `Oh, you want the money, huh?' And he started laughing," Blue said.

Vann "started going to the side," then the 14-year-old said, " `He got a gun, man. Shoot the nigger, Blue.'"

The 14-year-old, who like the other teen-agers charged in the shooting is black, got out of the cab and came around to the driver's side, Blue said. As the 14-year-old reached through the window to hit Vann, Blue said his arm was bumped by the younger boy and the gun fired.

"Were you aware that you had shot him?" asked Detective James L. Williamson in the interrogation.

"No," Blue answered. "When the gun went off, I ain't see no blood at first. But when it go `Pow,' then I said, I just, I just took off running."

Blue fidgeted throughout the hearing of several hours, but remained quiet. He did not testify.

His lawyer, Terrence K. Martin of Newport News, argued that the statement be denied as evidence, claiming Blue's rights to have an attorney or guardian present during interrogation were violated.

Martin noted that at the time of the interrogation, he was representing Blue on other matters as a court-appointed attorney, and that Blue's grandmother and guardian, Alberta Curry, was at the police station two floors below but was not allowed to see Blue.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn noted there was no evidence that Blue had asked for either Martin or Curry, although Williamson testified that the defendant had assured police he understood he was entitled to have them present.

Frank observed that he was unaware of any requirement that police do more than simply ensure that suspects understand their constitutional rights.

To explain the implications of these rights and delve into possible defense strategies, he said, "could almost get into the area where the police serve as legal counsel."

Blue has been held without bond in a juvenile detention center since his arrest.